Starvation experiments topic of Elizabethtown College alumnus' presentation

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Digital image from the C.D. Smith Papers in Civilian Public Service: Personal Papers & Miscellaneous Material (DG 056), Swarthmore College Peace Collection, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (03/02/2012)(readMedia)-- Robert Willoughby '47 returns to his alma mater for two events featuring his personal experiences as a conscientious objector during the Second World War. Both events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, March 20

7:30 p.m.

Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies

"Starvation Volunteer: A Conversation with an Elizabethtown Alumnus"

Jeff Bach, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, will facilitate a discussion with Robert Willoughby '47 about his experience as a conscientious objector during World War II and his participation in U.S. government research on human starvation. Audience participation is encouraged.

Wednesday, March 21

11 a.m.

Gibble Auditorium in Esbenshade Hall

This mid-morning event features an introduction by Provost Susan Traverso, followed by Dr. Diane Bridge, Biology, interviewing Robert Willoughby '47 about the government experiments he endured. Donald Kraybill, senior fellow at the Young Center, will explore Willoughby's Church of the Brethren heritage, conscientious objection to war, civilian public service and memories of Elizabethtown College.

Robert Willoughby'47 majored in sociology while attending Elizabethtown College. He went on to earn a master's degree in sociology from the University of Chicago. Willoughby taught middle school in Maryland for most of his professional life, before retiring in 1984. He has remained connected to the Church of the Brethren since his days as a conscientious objector.

An internationally recognized scholarly research institute, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown

College conducts and promotes research about Anabaptism and Pietism and interprets the life, faith and culture of Anabaptists and Pietists through public lectures, exhibits and conferences. For more information about the Young Center, visit

http://www.etown.edu/centers/young-center.

Links:

http://civilianpublicservice.org/camps/115/17 - read more about scientifically controlled programs conducted during the 1940s, which tested the impact of wartime diets on human volunteers.

Campus map - http://www.etown.edu/map

Elizabethtown College, in south-central Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Through personal attention, creative inspiration and academic challenge, Elizabethtown College students are encouraged to expand their intellectual curiosity and are given the opportunity to become a bigger part of the world through experiential learning-research, internships and study abroad. Elizabethtown College's overall commitment to Educate for Service is fulfilled as students are taught intellectually, socially, aesthetically and ethically for lives of service and leadership.

Visit www.etown.edu for more information about Elizabethtown College.